Flange oiler



Oct. 4, 1955 CARTER 2,719,602

FLANGE OILER Filed June 19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l A [law IV. Carter IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 4, 1955 Filed June 19, l953 A N. CARTER 19,602

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Allan N. Carter INVENTOR.

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Oct. 4, 1955 CARTER 2,719,602

FLANGE 0 ILER Filed June 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /8 Fig. 4 50 Fig. 6

Allan N. Carter INVENTOR.

A name United States, Patent FLANGE OILER Allen N. Carter, McCloud, Calif.

Application June 19, 1953, Serial No. 362,810

8 Claims. (Cl. 1843) performs its intended function in a most efficient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel flange oiler in conformity with the foregoing object which will be positively engaged against an associated wheel flange at all times in such a manner as to have proper allowance for wear in its shoe while at the same time permitting free actuation of its associated pump mechanism for properly supplying oil to an associated wheel flange.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation asmore fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partially broken away showing the oiler mechanism in position for use on an associated wheel;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation ofthe oiler assembly on enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4--4 of Figure 3 showing details of the assembly;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the details of the wheel flange shoe on enlarged scale and also showing a portion of an associated wheel in dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 66 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane of section line 77 of Figure 2 showing details of. the shoe urging assembly on enlarged scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates generally the main frame of a rail guided vehicle such as a locomotive or the like while reference numeral 12 indicates generally a base mounting plate serving as a support for the mechanism hereinafter described. The mounting plate indicated generally by the reference character 14 includes the horizontal portion 16 upon which the pump assembly indicated generally by the reference character 18 is mounted. A bracket assembly 20 is also secured to the vehicle frame and supports thereon the reservoir 22 adjacent the pump 18. The reservoir includes the tank 24 whose outer end 26 is closed as shown and whose inner end is provided with a cover plate 28 removably 2,719,602 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 secured thereto for the purpose of replenishing the supply of lubricant within the reservoir. The cover plate 28 is provided centrally thereof with a seal assembly (not shown) through which the piston rod 30 projects and is slidably with respect thereto so that the piston 32 may move toward the end 26 of the tank under the action of the compression spring 32 to force lubricant there from through the conduit 34, the fitting 36 onthe end 26 being in communication with the interior of the reservoir. Although the cover plate 28 is removably secured to the reservoir, it is preferred that a suitable fitting 38 be provided on the end 26 of the tank for the purpose of allowing lubricant to be forced thereinto when the supply in the reservoir has become low so as to obviate the necessity of removing the cover plate 28. It will be noted that the amount of lubricant remaining. in the reservoir can be readily determined by observing the position of the piston rod 30 with respect to the cover plate 28.

The conduit 34 connects with the intake boss 40 of the pump assembly and it will be readily apparent that the reservoir serves tomaintain a positive pressure supply to the inlet side of the pump at all times, thus assuring positive lubricating action at all times.

Mounting plate 14 alsoincludes in addition to the horizontal portion 16 the angularly depending portion 42 which is provided intermediate its length with the pivot bolt 44 in the manner shown. A shoe arm indicated generally by the reference character 46 includes an intermediate portion 48 having the elongated slot 50 therein through which the shank of the pivot bolt extends, the collar 52 of the pivot bolt overlying portions of the shoe arm adjacent the slot. In this manner, the intermediate portion of the shoe arm is in close contact with the mounting plate portion 42 but is slidably and pivotally carried thereby under action of the pivot bolt 44. In this respect, it might be pointed out that the diameter of the shank of the pivot bolt is substantially the same as the width of the slot 50. e

The pump assembly 18 is preferably of the force feed type having a ratchet drive therefor and may be constructed in accordance with Patent No. 2,406,599 although it will be appreciated that the specific construction of the pump forms no part of this invention, it being necessary only that a suitable type of force feed lubricator be utilized. The pump includes the vertical actuating arm 54 which is pivotally carried by the pump shaft 56 and whose lower end is provided with the horizontally extending lateral pin 58 extending above the portion 42 of the mounting plate. The end portion 60 of the shoe arm is provided with the elongated slot 62 through which the actuating arm pin 58 extends, the end portion 60 being disposed in parallel relation to the actuating arm 54. It will be understood that movement of the shoe arm 46 about the pivot bolt 44 will result in a corresponding motion of the actuating arm 54 expelling a predetermined quantity of lubricating fluid from the pump assembly 18 through the conduit 64 extending from the outlet boss 66 of the pump. The lateral car 68 on the free end of the shoe arm carries the babbitt or soft lead shoe 70 and the passage 72 therethroughcommunicates with conduit 64 through the medium of the threaded connector 74, the shoe being secured to the ear in any suitable manner.

The shoe includes the spaced apart rounded edge portions 75 and 76 which are adapted to straddle the wheel flange 78 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 5 with the edge portion 76 in engagement with the tapered rim 80 of the wheel with the passageway 72 extending therethrough and opening onto the wheel adjacent the radius connecting the rim and the flange.

A pair of spaced apart posts 182- and 84 are pivotally secured to the mounting plate portion 42 adjacent the horizontal portion thereof and a corresponding pair of posts 86 and 88 are pivotally secured to the intermediate portion 48 of the shoe arm in the manner shown. Rods 90 and 92 are threaded throughout substantially half their length and their smooth portions are headed as indicated by the reference character 94 for engagement with the shoe arm post whereas their opposite ends are provided with the nuts 96 in engagement with the mounting plate post, see most particularly Figure '7. A threaded sleeve 98 is disposed substantially centrally of the rods and provides an abutment member for adjacent ends of the compression springs 1G6 and N2 which extend therebetween into engagement with the respective posts to thus normally urge the assembly to the extended position wherein the posts are at their maximum spaced position. This performs a safety factor on the assembly inasmuch as the rods serve as stop members for preventing the shoe assembly from being completely worn away to allow the mounting plate and associated parts from coming into contact with the wheel flange which would, of course, necessitate their replacement. The springs are, of course, selected to provide the proper amount of frictional engagement between the shoe and the associated wheel flange.

As is well known in the art, there will be no lateral play between the wheels of the vehicle and its frame during straight ahead motion of the vehicle and it is also well known that during such travel the wheel flanges are not in engagement with the rails so that the assembly will not lubricate unnecessarily during the straight ahead motion of the vehicle. However, when rounding a curve, the vehicle frame will shift laterally with respect to its wheels imparting a pivotal action to the shoe arm which thus operates the pump to supply lubricant through the conduit 64 to the shoe to oil the wheel flange and prevent undue wear thereof. Since the pump is of the positive ratchet type of drive, only a predetermined proper quantity of lubricant will be deposited upon the wheel flange in response to a particular movement of the shoe arm, this preventing a continuous bleed of lubricant while the vehicle is rounding a curve. it will be noted that the shoe engages the wheel flange in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of grit or other foreign material between the shoe and the wheel flange, it being pointed out in this respect that the normal forward motion of the vehicle will be to the left in Figure l.

The shoe, being of soft metal, will wear gradually away and fill any pits in the wheel flange surface and, due to the provision of the elongated slots 50 and 62 in the shoe arm, will be allowed to properly engage against the associated wheel flange during the entire normal extent of its operating life while at all times permitting free and proper action of the pump assembly regardless of the extent of wear on the shoe.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a vehicle having a frame supported by flanged wheels movable with respect thereto, a lubricant reservoir mounted on said frame, a pump carried by said frame provided with a conduit connected to said reservoir, said pump including an actuating arm, a mounting plate secured to said frame, an elongated shoe arm pivotally secured at an intermediate portion of said mounting plate, a wheel flange engaging shoe carried at one end of said arm, a conduit extending between said pump and said shoe, the other end of said arm being connected to said pump actuating arm whereby movement of the shoe actuates the pump to lubricate the shoe and its associated wheel.

2. In a vehicle having a frame supported by flanged wheels movable with respect thereto, a pump carried by said frame, said pump including an actuating arm, a mounting plate secured to said frame, an elongated shoe arm pivotally secured at an intermediate portion of said mounting plate, a wheel flange engaging shoe carried at one end of said arm, a conduit extending between said pump and said shoe, the other end of said arm being connected to said pump actuating arm whereby movement of the shoe actuates the pump to lubricate the shoe and its associated wheel.

3. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate, a pump secured to said mounting plate and including an actuating arm, an elongated shoe arm pivotally secured to said mounting plate and having a slotted end portion receiving said actuating arm, a wheel flange engaging shoe on the other end of said shoe arm, and a conduit extending between said pump and said shoe.

4. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, said mounting plate having a horizontal portion and an angularly depending leg portion, a pump secured to said horizontal portion including a vertical actuating arm provided with 'a laterally projecting pin, a shoe arm, said shoe arm having a slotted intermediate portion overlying the leg portion of said mounting plate, a pivot bolt extending through said intermediate portion and secured to said leg portion, said shoe arm also having a slotted vertical end portion receiving the laterally projecting pin on said actuating arm and a wheel flange engaging shoe on its other end, and a conduit extending between said shoe and said pump.

5. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, said mounting plate having a horizontal portion and an angularly depending leg portion, a pump secured to said horizontal portion including a vertical actuating arm provided with a laterally projecting pin, a shoe arm, said shoe arm having a slotted intermediate portion overlying the leg portion of said mounting plate, a pivot bolt extending through said intermediate portion and secured to said leg portion, said shoe arm also having a slotted vertical end portion receiving the laterally projecting pin on said actuating arm and a wheel flange engaging shoe on its other end, and a conduit extending between said shoe and said pump, resilient means disposed between said mounting plate and said shoe arm for urging said shoe into engagement with an associated wheel flange.

6. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, said mounting plate having a horizontal portion and an angularly depending leg portion, a pump secured to said horizontal portion including a vertical actuating arm provided with a laterally projecting pin, a shoe arm, said shoe arm having a slotted intermediate portion overlying the leg portion of said mounting plate, a pivot bolt extending through said intermediate portion and secured to said leg portion, said shoe arm also having a slotted vertical end portion receiving the laterally projecting pin on said actuating arm and a wheel flange engaging shoe on its other end, and a conduit extending between said shoe and said pump, said resilient means including a first post pivotally secured to said mounting plate, a second post pivotally secured to said shoe arm, a rod slidably received in one of said posts and secured to the other, and a compression spring disposed concentrically of said rod urging said posts apart.

7. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, said mounting plate having a horizontal portion and an angularly depending leg portion, a pump secured to said horizontal portion including a vertical actuating arm provided with a laterally projecting pin, a shoe arm, said shoe arm having a slotted intermediate portion overlying the leg portion of said mounting plate, a pivot bolt extending through said intermediate portion and secured to said leg portion, said shoe arm also having a slotted vertical end portion receiving the laterally projecting pin on said actuating arm and a wheel flange engaging shoe on its other end, and a conduit extending between said shoe and said pump, a positive pressure reservoir connected to said pump for supplying lubricant under pressure thereto.

8. A wheel flange oiler comprising a mounting plate, a pump secured to said mounting plate and including an actuating arm, an elongated shoe arm pivotally secured to said mounting plate and having a slotted end portion receiving said actuating arm, a wheel flange engaging shoe on the other end of said shoe arm, and a conduit extending between said pump and said shoe, 9. positive pressure reservoir connected to said pump for supplying lubricant under pressure thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,782,133 Childs Nov. 18, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 906,260 France May 14, 1945 

